Patents by Inventor Georgios L. Varsamis
Georgios L. Varsamis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9664016Abstract: The artificial lift system comprises a downhole tool suspended by a power conductive cable in a wellbore. The downhole tool comprises an atomizing chamber for conversion of the liquid into droplets having an average diameter less than or equal to 10,000 microns. Natural gas produced by a producing zone of the subterranean reservoir transports the vaporized liquid molecules to the well surface. In operation, the atomizing chamber is located above the liquid column in the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Dennis J. Harris, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Abbas Arian, Randall B. Jones, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 7535795Abstract: A method and system for conducting a seismic survey by lowering a string of intelligent clampable sensor pods with 3-C sensors into a borehole. The string of pods is serially interconnected by a cable having a conductor pair which provides both power and data connectivity. The uppermost sensor pod is connected to a downhole telemetry and control module. The cables and pods use connectors to allow assembly, customization, repair, and disassembly on site. Each pod has an upper and a lower connector, a processor, and memory which is coupled to both the upper and the lower connectors. Each pod is capable of simultaneous and independent serial communications at each connector with the memory. The telemetry and control module is designed to query the pods to determine the system configuration. The telemetry and control module then simultaneously triggers all pods to acquire data, the pods storing the collected data locally in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Sensorwise, Inc.Inventors: Georgios L. Varsamis, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Abbas Arian
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Publication number: 20080224887Abstract: A method and system for conducting a seismic survey by lowering a string of intelligent clampable sensor pods with 3-C sensors into a borehole. The string of pods is serially interconnected by a cable having a conductor pair which provides both power and data connectivity. The uppermost sensor pod is connected to a downhole telemetry and control module. The cables and pods use connectors to allow assembly, customization, repair, and disassembly on site. Each pod has an upper and a lower connector, a processor, and memory which is coupled to both the upper and the lower connectors. Each pod is capable of simultaneous and independent serial communications at each connector with the memory. The telemetry and control module is designed to query the pods to determine the system configuration. The telemetry and control module then simultaneously triggers all pods to acquire data, the pods storing the collected data locally in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Georgios L. Varsamis, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Abbas Arian
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Patent number: 7392135Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing and/or substantially eliminating sensitivity mismatch of acoustic receivers used with acoustic sources to determine acoustic properties of geologic formations as a logging tool traverses the formations. Methods are directed to detecting waveform arrival times at receivers, determining places in a well where arrival times of waves are substantially the same at a plurality of receivers, and estimating effective receiver sensitivities and equalization factors using Stoneley wave amplitudes and windowed deconvolution of Stoneley waves. Methods are further directed to correcting wave amplitudes using estimated effective receiver sensitivities and equalization factors for receivers.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Georgios L. Varsamis, Joakim Oscar Blanch, Arthur C. H. Cheng, Calvin Wisner Kessler, Denis Schmitt, Batakrishna Mandal
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Patent number: 7116182Abstract: A downhole crystal-based clock that is substantially insensitive to the factors that cause frequency deviation. The clock may be maintained at a predetermined temperature using a temperature sensing device and a heating device, where the predetermined temperature corresponds to the temperature at which the crystal experiences only slight frequency deviation as a function of temperature. A microprocessor may monitor the clock and compensate for long-term aging effects of the crystal according to a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm may represent long-term aging effects of the crystal which were derived by comparing the crystal clock to a more accurate clock (e.g., an atomic clock) prior to placing the clock downhole. In this manner, the crystal-based clock may be substantially free from the factors that cause frequency, and therefore time variations.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Georgios L. Varsamis, Gary D. Althoff, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Denis P. Schmitt, Abbas Arian, James H. Dudley
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Patent number: 6943709Abstract: A self-adaptable data compression technique includes compressing the digital data points of a waveform according to at least a first protocol and a second protocol, and various comparing the compressed data under various protocols to determine which would require the least memory for storage.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2004Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Halliburton, Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Sven G. Holmquist, Jennifer A. Market, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 6899197Abstract: An acoustic logging tool including an elongated body, one or more acoustic transmitters, one or more acoustic receivers, and a broadband acoustic absorption region. A substantial portion of the broadband acoustic absorption region is between the transmitter and the receiver. The acoustic energy absorber includes a first absorber for absorbing a first mode of acoustic energy and a second absorber for absorbing a second mode of acoustic energy. The acoustic absorption material used to make the acoustic absorbers has an acoustic impedance between 20% and 120% of the material used to construct the acoustic logging tool. The acoustic logging tool includes an elongated hollow tool body, an insert configured to be inserted into the tool body, and a ring configured to be inserted onto the insert. A first element is supported by the ring and exposed to a pressure field, and a second element is supported by the ring and exposed to a pressure field.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2002Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.Inventors: Abbas Arian, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Georgios L. Varsamis, Gary L. Fickert
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Patent number: 6842400Abstract: The specification discloses a system and related method for determining characteristics of earth formations traversed by a borehole. An acoustic transmitter mounted on a tool, whether that tool is a wireline tool or a logging-while-drilling tool, imparts acoustic energy into the formation, and a plurality of receivers spaced apart from the transmitter and from each other receive acoustic energy responsive to the transmitter firing. Portions, or all, of each received signal are used to estimate source signals using an assumed transfer function. Each of those estimated source signals are then compared in some way to determine an objective function. This process is repeated for multiple assumed transfer functions, and at multiple starting times within the received signals. By searching for minimas of a plot of the objective function, characteristics of the earth formation may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20040246059Abstract: A downhole crystal-based clock that is substantially insensitive to the factors that cause frequency deviation. The clock may be maintained at a predetermined temperature using a temperature sensing device and a heating device, where the predetermined temperature corresponds to the temperature at which the crystal experiences only slight frequency deviation as a function of temperature. A microprocessor may monitor the clock and compensate for long-term aging effects of the crystal according to a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm may represent long-term aging effects of the crystal which were derived by comparing the crystal clock to a more accurate clock (e.g., an atomic clock) prior to placing the clock downhole. In this manner, the crystal-based clock may be substantially free from the factors that cause frequency, and therefore time variations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Georgios L. Varsamis, Gary D. Althoff, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Denis P. Schmitt, Abbas Arian, James H. Dudley
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Patent number: 6791899Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 6772067Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, IncInventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20040145503Abstract: A method for creating a frequency domain semblance for use in conjunction with acoustic logging tools is disclosed. Such a frequency domain semblance may be obtained by transforming an acoustic signal received at multiple depths into the frequency domain, combining the received waveforms corresponding to the different depth, and expressing the result in a graph with slowness and frequency axes. This graph shows the frequency-slowness location for the acoustic signal, as well as for other related signals that may inadvertently be generated by the acoustic logging tool. This information may then be used to more clearly measure the slowness of the received acoustic signal. Another aspect of the invention is the treatment of two or more time domain semblances as probability density functions of the slowness for an acoustic signal. This enables the combination of time domain semblances from the same depth in the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Sven G. Holmquist, Jennifer A. Market, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 6766252Abstract: The specification discloses a signal processing technique applicable in acoustic logging devices. The method involves receiving a set of acoustic signals and converting those received signals to their frequency domain representation. Values of the frequency domain representations along constant frequencies are correlated to produce a correlation matrix. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the correlation matrix are determined, and the eigenvectors corresponding to signals of interest are removed to create a subspace. Thereafter, a series of test vectors, which test vectors embody a series of estimated slowness values, are applied to the subspace vector. If the test vector maps to or may be represented by the subspace, then the estimated slowness embodied in the test vector maps to noise of the system and is not the correct value for the formation. If, however, the test vector does not map to the subspace, then the slowness embodied in the test vector approximates the actual formation slowness.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20040073372Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 6691036Abstract: A method for creating a frequency domain semblance for use in conjunction with acoustic logging tools is disclosed. Such a frequency domain semblance may be obtained by transforming an acoustic signal received at multiple depths into the frequency domain, combining the received waveforms corresponding to the different depth, and expressing the result in a graph with slowness and frequency axes. This graph shows the frequency-slowness location for the acoustic signal, as well as for other related signals that may inadvertently be generated by the acoustic logging tool. This information may then be used to more clearly measure the slowness of the received acoustic signal. Another aspect of the invention is the treatment of two or more time domain semblances as probability density functions of the slowness for an acoustic signal. This enables the combination of time domain semblances from the same depth in the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Sven G. Holmquist, Jennifer A. Market, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Patent number: 6661737Abstract: An acoustic tool that provides a programmable source waveform is disclosed. Numerous advantages may be achieved from the configurability of the source waveform. Notably, acoustic logs at multiple frequencies may be acquired with a single pass. The waveform may be frequency-adapted to maximize formation response and amplitude adapted for gain control. In one embodiment, the acoustic tool comprises: a controller, a digital-to-analog controller (DAC), an acoustic transducer, and a linear driver. The DAC converts a digital waveform from the controller into an analog waveform. The acoustic transducer converts an electrical signal into an acoustic signal. The linear driver receives the analog waveform from the DAC and responsively provides the electrical signal to the acoustic transducer. The electrical signal is proportional to the analog waveform. The tool may further include a memory for storing the digital waveform and/or software for generating the digital waveform.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Laurence Wisniewski, Georgios L. Varsamis, Batakrishna Mandal
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Publication number: 20030206487Abstract: The specification discloses a system and related method for determining characteristics of earth formations traversed by a borehole. An acoustic transmitter mounted on a tool, whether that tool is a wireline tool or a logging-while-drilling tool, imparts acoustic energy into the formation, and a plurality of receivers spaced apart from the transmitter and from each other receive acoustic energy responsive to the transmitter firing. Portions, or all, of each received signal are used to estimate source signals using an assumed transfer function. Each of those estimated source signals are then compared in some way to determine an objective function. This process is repeated for multiple assumed transfer functions, and at multiple starting times within the received signals. By searching for minimas of a plot of the objective function, characteristics of the earth formation may be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2001Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20030206488Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20030139884Abstract: The specification discloses a signal processing technique applicable in acoustic logging devices. The method involves receiving a set of acoustic signals and converting those received signals to their frequency domain representation. Values of the frequency domain representations along constant frequencies are correlated to produce a correlation matrix. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the correlation matrix are determined, and the eigenvectors corresponding to signals of interest are removed to create a subspace. Thereafter, a series of test vectors, which test vectors embody a series of estimated slowness values, are applied to the subspace vector. If the test vector maps to or may be represented by the subspace, then the estimated slowness embodied in the test vector maps to noise of the system and is not the correct value for the formation. If, however, the test vector does not map to the subspace, then the slowness embodied in the test vector approximates the actual formation slowness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Joakim O. Blanch, Georgios L. Varsamis
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Publication number: 20030123326Abstract: An acoustic tool that provides a programmable source waveform is disclosed. Numerous advantages may be achieved from the configurability of the source waveform. Notably, acoustic logs at multiple frequencies may be acquired with a single pass. The waveform may be frequency-adapted to maximize formation response and amplitude adapted for gain control. In one embodiment, the acoustic tool comprises: a controller, a digital-to-analog controller (DAC), an acoustic transducer, and a linear driver. The DAC converts a digital waveform from the controller into an analog waveform. The acoustic transducer converts an electrical signal into an acoustic signal. The linear driver receives the analog waveform from the DAC and responsively provides the electrical signal to the acoustic transducer. The electrical signal is proportional to the analog waveform. The tool may further include a memory for storing the digital waveform and/or software for generating the digital waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Laurence Wisniewski, Georgios L. Varsamis, Batakrishna Mandal